Imperatives of Nuclear Energy in India's Clean Energy Transition

Climate change is a reality, and India has been proactive in addressing the issue both nationally and in cooperation with the global community, despite its demographic and developmental imperatives. While exploring technological solutions to curb domestic carbon emissions in various sectors in the short term, India is also attempting to rationalize its energy mix for long-term sustainability by opting for green and clean energy options. To navigate this transition, India has planned a judicious combination of energy sources to meet its self-set goal of net-zero emissions by 2070. In the process, it is promoting a long-term low-carbon development strategy and aims to generate at least 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Solar and wind energy projects, in particular, are being promoted aggressively through government incentives, leading to a visible increase in renewable energy production. However, nuclear energy remains a cost-effective and stable baseload alternative power source that should be promoted simultaneously to help India achieve its clean energy transition smoothly in a carbon-constrained world. This article argues that nuclear energy is a viable option for meeting India’s climate change obligations while sustaining its high economic development trajectory.